In January, the new Congress will be sworn in, and each member will swear an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Judging by how often Congress operates outside the bounds of the Constitution, one wonders if the members actually ever read our most important founding document.

If there is a mandate for the Congress coming out of the 2010 elections, it is that the Constitution must be made relevant again. And what better way to begin the One Hundred Twelfth Congress than to have read aloud, in both the House and Senate, the Constitution in its entirety.

The House and Senate will waste hours congratulating sports teams, naming post offices, and various other meaningless tasks. Even worse, it will spend much more time doing things for which it has absolutely no constitutional authority.

The purpose of this petition is clear and obvious. The Congress must be reminded that this is a nation of laws, and there is a law that governs what the Congress is empowered to do -- either to justify their actions or to demonstrate when they are unlawfully operating beyond their bounds, no matter how well-intentioned.

If you believe that the Constitution matters in the 21st century, and if you agree that it would be time well spent for the Congress to read the Constitution, then please SIGN THE PETITION.

Obviously, in petitioning our government, the people must speak with numbers on their side. Just like it's only one vote per person at the ballot box, but each vote counts and any vote can make the difference, so it is that every signature on this petition counts. So please help get the word out. Spread the petition effort far and wide -- family, friends, churches, gun clubs, Facebook, e-mail lists, internet forums, your own website or blog, radio shows... whatever you think might result in even one additional signature. Thank you.